Puffin License Plate Preorder - Oregon Coast Aquarium

A puffin license plate is landing in Oregon

The puffin plate arrives on March 31, 2027.

Thank you to everyone that helped us reach the 3,000 voucher preorder goal!

The DMV reached out in early September 2026 to apologize for the delay. As of March 31, the puffin plate will be available at every DMV office.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will puffin plates be available at the DMV?

As of March 31, the puffin plate will be available at every DMV office.

Where's my voucher?

Official vouchers will be mailed out 60 days before March 31. If you have not received your voucher by February 15, email us at the same address.

When your voucher arrives, keep it somewhere safe. It is the only official copy, and you need it to pick up your plate.

I got a new vehicle and/or sold my old vehicle! Do I need to update my information?

Short answer: no.

The preorder purchase is tied to your driver’s license, not a current/previous license plate or vehicle. So if you change your mind about what vehicle you want to put it on or get a new car between purchase and redemption, no worries!

I moved! How do I update my mailing address?

Please email puffinplate@aquarium.org with all mailing address updates by December 31, 2026.

I didn't preorder! Can I still get a plate?

Yes you can get a puffin plate, just not yet!

Starting March 31st, you will be able to purchase/transfer your plates over to that as with any other custom plate background.

Will I need to reregister my tags/pay my registration fee again?

This can vary from person to person.

If your registration is current, you will maintain the time you have left.

If your registration is expiring within 120 days, you can choose to renew the registration at the same time you obtain your puffin plate.

If your registration is expired, you will be required to renew your registration before or at the same time you obtain your puffin plate.

See DMV’s website for registration and applicable county fees.

For plate transfers:

If, after you obtain the plate, you want to move it to different vehicle that is also in your name, there is a $30 plate transfer fee.

If the vehicle it is being transferred to is not in your name, it can still be transferred but the owner of the vehicle that is receiving the plate will need to pay the plate transfer fee and all original registration and surcharges again.

See DMV’s website for more information about plate transfers.

How do I get a custom phrase/vanity plate?

It’s totally possible to have a custom phrase on your plate! There are two ways to go about this:

Now: You can obtain your custom phrase now (on the background of the standard Oregon plate) and then transfer it over to the puffin plates once those become available.
Later: You can wait to apply for the custom phrase until you redeem your voucher later on.

You can learn more about DMV’s process to transfer existing custom plates or get a new custom plate on the DMV’s site.

What number plate will I get?

Unfortunately we cannot pre-assign or guarantee numbers. When you get a plate from DMV you will be issued the next number in their inventory.

Will there be ongoing fees associated with this plate?

Yes, each time you renew your plates you will be charged a $40 surcharge in additional to DMV’s regular renewal fees. Of this charge, about $35 directly supports animal rehabilitation efforts by the Oregon Coast Aquarium and about $5 will be retained by the DMV for administrative costs.

How do I give a voucher as a gift?

To give the Puffin Plate voucher as a gift, once you have your physical voucher you’ll sign as “Purchaser” and complete the bottom “Transfer of Voucher” section and provide the name of the person receiving the gift. Be sure that you also sign as “Transferor” in this section.

Wait, I didn't get a sticker!

Stickers will be mailed out with vouchers, arriving by early March, 2027.

I do not live in or have a registered vehicle in the state of Oregon. Can I purchase a souvenir plate?

Souvenir plates are not available for purchase. Puffin Plates are only available with eligible passenger vehicles registered in the State of Oregon.

Why are the plates taking so long?

The DMV reached out in early September 2026 to apologize for the delay. Their system upgrade ran into problems, and other issues outside their control piled on top of it. They have confirmed that as of March 31, the puffin plate will be available at every DMV office.

I have a question not answered here!

Still have questions? Email us at puffinplate@aquarium.org and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Hooray! Our

voucher goal has been met!

A new license plate is landing in Oregon!

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is one of three facilities in the Pacific Northwest, and the only in the state of Oregon, authorized to provide critical care to endangered marine animals like sea turtles, snowy plovers and Guadalupe fur seals. With the purchase of a puffin plate, you help support the Aquarium’s wildlife rehabilitation and animal care.

Why a tufted puffin?

The tufted puffin is one of Oregon’s most iconic species, beloved by coastal locals and travelers alike. They can be seen in the Aquarium’s Seabird Aviary, or through the spring and summer at their famous nesting site at Haystack Rock. While adored, these birds have declined significantly in Oregon over the last few decades, and we want to raise awareness around these incredible birds!

Helping marine wildlife recover

A hypothermic female olive ridley sea turtle stranded on a remote southern Washington beach. An endangered Western snowy plover chick abandoned in its nest, covered in sand and not even fully hatched. A northern fur seal pup entangled by a plastic balloon string in a RV parking lot. These are just three examples of injured wildlife that arrived at the Oregon Coast Aquarium for care.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Program rescues and rehabilitates threatened and endangered animals as well as indigenous wildlife deemed injured by human interference.

Aid & assistance

The Aquarium receives hundreds of reports of entangled and injured wildlife each year. The Aquarium partners with wildlife rehabilitation centers along the coast to promote injured animals’ long term care and chances of successful release, and is currently building its own Marine Wildlife Center to expand its capacity for wildlife rehabilitation & animal care.